Herbal Steams

Why use herbal steams?

 

We can use herbal steams to care for our skin, lungs, and sinuses and to soothe our nervous system. They can:

• Assist the respiratory system
• Support breathing
• Help clear congestion
• Aid the immune system in fighting off infection in your sinuses and lungs
• Calm inflammation or reduce redness in the face
• Help clear pores
• Purify oily skin
• Soften skin and prep face to absorb a nourishing oil or lotion
• Bring a gentle calmness to your nervous system (with calming herbs, as opposed to ones that may stimulate you)
• Offer relief from headaches associated with allergies or colds

Herbal steams have many other benefits, depending on the herbs used, and offer a simple care practice that’s accessible to most people!

Knowing which herbs, or essential oils (safety notes in link) to use can help you obtain specific benefits.

This post focuses on how to prepare and make herbal or essential oil-based steams rather than specific remedies. I’ve written separate posts that discuss herbal steams for allergies and viruses.

 

Preparing your Herbal or Essential Oil Steam

 

Supplies for Herbal Steams

Aside from the herbs and essential oils, you likely already have needed supplies.

• A metal, glass, or ceramic pot to boil water in
  • Best to use a pot with handles so you can more easily carry it.
• Potholders to carry the pot
• Water
  • I recommend filtered water since you’ll be inhaling its steam, and you want that to be as pure as possible.
  • If you can’t use filter water, allow some steam to evaporate off first.
• A towel
• Dried or fresh herbs
  • For dried herbs, you’d use about two handfuls. If using fresh, use about three handfuls.
  • Alternatively to herbs, you can use essential oils, though most steams will work beautifully with herbs.
  • Therapeutic needs often don’t require the kind of concentration that essential have.
    • Essential oils use much more plant material, so I try to work with herbs when I can.

Considerations for essential oil use in steams

If using essential oils instead of herbs, you can use 1 to 3 drops, depending on the essential oil and your response to it.

• Some people are very sensitive to aromas and 1 drop is plenty.
• This is because certain essential oils, such as Rosemary, Thyme, and Oregano, are quite stimulating, while others may be lighter in their interaction with your system.
• Start with 1 drop before adding more.
• Please refer to my post on essential oils for safety notes. Considerations for babies, children, pets, and health issues should be kept in mind.
  • Of note, Peppermint and Eucalyptus essential oils have safety considerations for children.

 

Directions for an Herbal Steam

Since you will be using very hot water and steam, you’ll want to be careful to avoid burns.

As you prepare to inhale, it’s best to close your eyes. Some people’s eyes are sensitive to the heat and volatile oils in the steam.

Depending on your reason for an herbal steam, you may want to repeat this several times during the same day or throughout the week.

Repeating steams will be especially important for steams that are:

• Helping with allergy symptoms,
• Clearing or thinning mucus of the sinuses or lungs
• Supporting the immune system response in the lungs and sinuses during a virus or other infection
• Assisting the body with skin conditions

 

Step by Step Directions for Therapeutic Steams

• Boil (ideally filtered) water on the stovetop to generate an abundant steam.
• Carefully place the pot of steaming hot water on a table where you can sit.
• Place your herbs or essential oil into the water.
• Sit at the table and create a tent by putting the towel over the bowl and your head.
• Position yourself 5 to 10 inches from the hot water and close your eyes.
• Inhale.
  • As soon as you put the herbs or essential oil in the water, you will get the most potent steam with the constituents you want, so be ready to take that first inhale!
• Stay till the water no longer offers steam or for as long as it is comfortable.
  • This will usually be less than 10 minutes.

 

Children’s Herbal Steam Safety & Hydrosol Baths as an Alternative

 

Babies & Children Under 5: Alternative to Herbal Steams

Do not use herbal steams with newborns, infants, babies, or children under 5. An alternate option for infants, toddlers, and very young children (up to the age of 5) is giving a bath with hydrosols.

Adults can use baths with hydrosols too!

Safe Herbal Steams for Children 5 to 10

Herbal steams can be adapted for children once they are old enough to follow directions, about the age of 5. Please research any herbs you use in an herb book or consult a trusted herbal practitioner.

Basic Safety for Children and Herbal Steams

• Never leave a child sitting unattended with a pot of steaming water.
• Children need more dilute remedies than adults.

 

A dilute version of herbal steams for children from 5 years old and up:

• • Use 1/2 handful of dried herbs or 1 handful of fresh herbs (half the amount you’d use for an adult)
  • Place the steaming pot with herbs on the floor near some furniture and use blankets to create a large tent.
  • Sit in the tent with the child for a few minutes so they can inhale the herbal steam safely, away from the hot pot, and under your supervision.
  • Have fun as you teach them to care for themselves when not feeling well! 🙂

For children under 10, do not use essential oils in steam; use herbs instead.

• There are some risks for younger children and essential oil use. (safety notes in link)
  • • Many essential oils can be safely used with children when used appropriately, but some have risks.
    • For simplicity and more brevity, I’m suggesting not using them for children under 10.

 

Just as Steam Evaporates…

…I’m about to sign off here. As the steam from your herbal remedy dissipates into the air, think about what you want to dissipate from your system.

Feel better. Once you do, contact me and tell me what more you want to know about this topic or how an herbal steam worked for you!

– Quai